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6 Nov 2003 : Column 798W—continued

TREASURY

Air Transport

John Barrett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what plans he has to increase air passenger duty; [136399]

(2) what plans he has to end the tax exemption status of aviation fuel. [136400]

John Healey: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. O'Brien) on 28 October 2003, Official Report, column 206W. Levels of all taxes are reviewed as part of the annual Budget process, taking account of a range of social, economic and environmental considerations. The Chicago Convention prohibits the imposition of taxes or charges on fuel kept on board aircraft and consumed on international flights. The UK is also bound by bilateral air service agreements which impose further restrictions.

The 2002 Pre-Budget Report stated that the Government would discuss with stakeholders the most effective economic instruments for ensuring that the industry is encouraged to take account of, and where appropriate, reduce its contribution to global warming, local air and noise pollution. The Government's views will be set out in the Air Transport White Paper, due to be published later this year.

ASPIRE Programme

Mr. Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 14 October 2003, Official Report, column 141W, who has been the Board member responsible for project ASPIRE since the planning first commenced; when the intention to engage in a market

6 Nov 2003 : Column 799W

making exercise in support of project ASPIRE was first committed to by Inland Revenue; when the potential suppliers who took part in the market making exercise were first selected by Inland Revenue for that purpose; and what action Inland Revenue subsequently took after 12 April 2000 to the end of July 2001 to ensure that maximum value for public money expended upon project ASPIRE was obtained. [136562]

Dawn Primarolo: The Board of the Inland Revenue has set up a Superintending Group to oversee the work of ASPIRE, which is chaired by Sir Nicholas Montagu KCB, the Chairman of the Inland Revenue.

As I said in my answer of 14 October 2003, Official Report, column 141W, the market-making exercise was conceived by the Inland Revenue between August and October 2001; it was also committed to at this time. Potential suppliers were also identified between August and October 2001 as part of the planning for the market-making exercise.

Bank Accounts

Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have taken up basic bank accounts in the UK; and what percentage this represents of all UK personal bank accounts. [136444]

Ruth Kelly: Latest figures from the British Bankers Association show that at the end of June 2003, the total number of basic bank accounts was 6,063,327. At the end of 2002, the total number of personal accounts (Major British Banking Groups) was 111,847,000. Basic bank accounts represent around 5–6 per cent. of all personal accounts using these figures.

Crown Estate Income

Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much income the Crown Estate has received from rents paid for (a) marinas and (b) piers in each year since 1997. [136459]

Ruth Kelly: The figures for rents received for piers and marinas in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are in the table.

The information for Scotland is not readily available prior to the current financial year. This is because information held on foreshore lease arrangements in Scotland in previous years cannot readily identify income from piers and marinas. However, the estimated income for the current financial year in Scotland is £95,000 from piers and £60,000 from marinas, and this would be indicative of income in previous years.

£

	Piers	Marinas
1997	9,375	574,960
1998	9,375	624,974
1999	9,375	714,896
2000	10,500	574,260
2001	10,500	738,504
2002	11,500	996,703
2003	12,500	1,242,219
Total (excluding Scotland)	73,125	5,466,516

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Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue the Crown Estate has collected from charges levied on cables crossing its land in each year since 1997; and how much the Crown Estate has charged per kilometre of cable laid (a) on the seabed and (b) over ground in each year since 1997. [136460]

Ruth Kelly: Since 1997 the information requested is as follows:

Land based cables

Cables that cross land, or connect Scottish Islands to the UK mainland for domestic purposes, are covered by the British Telecom Master Agreement, which is expressed as a lump sum payment. This agreement is negotiated between BT and the Crown Estate and covers not only cables, but also poles, struts, stays, joint boxes, etc. that cross land.

	Revenue (£ million)
1997	0.43
1998	0.58
1999	0.58
2000	0.65
2001	0.65
2002	1.05
2003	1.05

Seabed cables

The Crown Estate holds consultation with the United Kingdom Cable Protection Committee (UKCPC) in respect of telecommunication cable systems that either transit UK waters or land at some point on the UK coast. The agreement relates to international systems only. The agreement sets out fixed charges for single destination and self-healing loop systems, regardless of the length of cable involved.

	Revenue (£ million)
1997	1.22
1998	1.63
1999	2.65
2000	3.54
2001	3.79
2002	4.98
2003	5.07

Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 27 October 2003, Official Report, column 38W, on Crown Estate income, how much income has been received by the Crown Estate from rents paid for cables which connect (a) Orkney, (b) Shetland and (c) other Scottish Islands to the UK mainland for each financial year since 1997; and what estimate the Government have made of the impact on UK businesses of charges levied by the Crown Estate for cables that use the seabed. [136496]

Ruth Kelly: Revenue paid to The Crown Estate for cables to Orkney, Shetland and other Scottish Islands from the UK mainland is calculated under the British Telecom Master Agreement. The revenue is not calculated for each specific piece of land that is crossed and therefore information for cables connecting individual Scottish Islands is not identifiable. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave earlier today

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regarding the revenue received by the Crown Estate from cables crossing either the seabed or land managed by the Crown Estate since 1997.

Rents charged by the Crown Estate for use of the seabed are established by professional valuers in negotiation with users, and where appropriate, involve consultation with the relevant industry or interest groups. The rents are set at levels appropriate to the market conditions and must not take advantage of any monopoly interest. The Crown Estate must comply with the requirements placed upon it by Parliament under The Crown Estate Act 1961, with regards to the maintenance of the Estate and the income which it yields. The Crown Estate manages the estate according to sound commercial principles, and also understands and works with the industries that use its assets to ensure that high standards of management and stewardship are followed.

Firearms

Mr. Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answers of 15 October 2003, Official Report, column 280W, and 14 July 2003, Official Report, column 133W, whether firearms include shotguns for licensing purposes; of the firearms controlled by HM Customs at Farnborough airport in 1999 how many were not presented with a valid firearms licence or British visitor firearms licence by the individuals declaring them to customs officers on the date of entry to the UK; and how many firearms were prohibited within the meaning of the Firearms Acts. [136563]

John Healey: Firearms include shot guns for import and domestic licensing purposes. Of the importations of firearms controlled by Customs at Farnborough airport in 1999 one was a prohibited weapon within the meaning of the Firearms Act 1968 and did not have a valid firearms licence or British Visitor's Permit.

Fireworks

Mr. Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many illegal fireworks have been seized on entry to the UK at the port of Hull in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [136356]

John Healey: 17,400 fireworks weighing approximately 3.5 tonnes have been seized at the port of Hull in the 12 months to 31 October 2003.

Inland Revenue

Mr. Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answers of 14 October 2003, Official Report, column 141W, and 8 September 2003, Official Report, column 103W, on the Inland Revenue, whether Commissioners of Inland Revenue were given objectives relating to Project ASPIRE or its antecedents which attracted performance-related pay in 1999–2000 to 2002–03. [136564]

Dawn Primarolo: Commissioners of the Inland Revenue have Performance Agreements in the same way as all other staff. These contain agreed objectives that are relevant to their job but the Agreement and its contents are personal to the individual. Commissioners can earn performance-related pay under the pay system that applies to the Senior Civil Service, but details

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of performance appraisal and consequential pay adjustments are always treated as confidential information.

Mr. Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answers of 15 October 2003, Official Report, column 280W, and 14 October 2003, Official Report, column 139W, what the destination offices were in 2000–01 of Inland Revenue officers posted from the Business Tax Group, within International Division, broken down by (a) Business Tax Group Deputy Director's Office, (b) Policy Team and (c) Advisory/Casework Team. [136565]

Dawn Primarolo: It would be inappropriate to disclose the information requested as it would facilitate the identification of individual members of staff of the Inland Revenue. Exemption 8 (a) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government information applies in this case.

Mr. Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 8 September 2003, Official Report, column 103W, on what date the Inland Revenue submitted its Supplementary Memorandum, as published in the 29 Report of the Committee of Public Accounts, Session 2002–03, HC 332, to the Committee of Public Accounts. [136820]

Dawn Primarolo: The Supplementary Memorandum to which the hon. Member refers was submitted to the Committee of Public Accounts on 12 February 2003.

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